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Metabolic Health · Psychiatry

Weight gain shouldn’t mean giving up
the treatment that’s working.

Some psychiatric medications cause weight gain — and that weight is a leading reason people stop treatment that’s actually helping. We manage it as part of your psychiatric care, including GLP-1 medication when it’s the right fit.

Book an appointment Call (925) 825-1766

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A private consultation office at a Universal Medical Group clinic
Universal Medical GroupPsychiatry · Est. 2008
8–15%
Body-weight reduction in GLP-1 weight-loss trials
Weekly
Most GLP-1 medications are a once-weekly dose
2008
Physician-led psychiatry, established
58
CA counties served by TelePsychiatry
4
California clinics
Metabolic monitoring built into care
Now accepting new patients
Medi-Cal · Medicare & most insurance
(925) 825-1766
Medication-related weight gain

The weight is real — and so is the reason.

Several classes of psychiatric medication can cause weight gain — most often some second-generation antipsychotics, certain mood stabilizers, and a few antidepressants. How much, and for whom, varies a great deal.

This is not a willpower problem. These medications can change appetite, dull the body’s sense of fullness, and shift how energy is stored. For some people that means several pounds within the first weeks or months of starting treatment.

Why it matters: the weight gain becomes its own health concern — blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol — and it is one of the most common reasons people stop a medication that is genuinely controlling their symptoms. Managing weight is therefore part of managing the underlying condition.

Never stop a psychiatric medication on your own because of weight gain. Stopping suddenly can bring symptoms back. Bring it to your visit instead — there are almost always good options to weigh together.

At a glance

  • Higher-risk medicationsSome antipsychotics & mood stabilizers
  • Lower-risk optionsOften available — we review yours
  • When it startsOften the first weeks to months
  • What we monitorWeight, BMI, blood pressure, glucose, lipids
  • The aimKeep effective treatment, manage the weight
  • GLP-1 roleAn added tool when it’s the right fit
How it works

A fullness signal the body already uses.

GLP-1 is a hormone the gut releases after a meal. It travels to the brain’s appetite centers with a simple message — you’ve had enough — and slows how quickly the stomach empties, so fullness lasts longer.

A GLP-1 medication extends that natural signal. For someone whose psychiatric medication has blunted their sense of fullness, it can quietly restore the brake the body lost — without changing the medication that’s keeping them well.

Is this the right fit?

Who we can help.

GLP-1 treatment is one tool among several. It’s considered when weight gain is affecting your health or your treatment — and when it’s a safe, sensible next step. The picture usually looks like this:

01

Weight gain on a psychiatric medication

You’ve gained weight since starting or changing a psychiatric medication, and it’s affecting your physical health or how you feel about staying on treatment.

Core reason
02

The medication is working

Your psychiatric medication is controlling your symptoms. The goal is to keep it — not to trade symptom relief for a smaller number on the scale.

Keep what works
03

Earlier steps haven’t been enough

Reviewing the medication and adjusting lifestyle haven’t fully resolved the weight. GLP-1 treatment is added as a considered next step, not a first one.

An added step
04

Safe for GLP-1 treatment

We screen for the conditions where GLP-1 medications aren’t appropriate — and discuss the risks and benefits openly — before recommending them.

Screened first
What to expect

How metabolic care fits your visits.

Weight is managed inside your regular psychiatric care — not as a separate program in a separate place. Here is the path it follows.

01

Metabolic baseline

We review your weight history, current medications, and baseline labs — blood pressure, glucose or A1c, and a lipid panel — so we’re working from a clear picture.

Where we start
02

Medication review first

Before adding anything, we look at whether the psychiatric medication itself can be adjusted or switched to a lower-risk option without losing symptom control. Sometimes that settles it.

First option
03

A plan, decided together

If more is needed, we build a plan — lifestyle support, and where it fits, GLP-1 treatment. The decision is made with you, not for you.

Shared decision
04

Starting GLP-1, if it’s right

GLP-1 medications start at a low dose and increase slowly to limit side effects. Most are a once-weekly injection. We coordinate the prescription and handle insurance prior authorization.

Gradual start
05

Ongoing monitoring

Regular check-ins track weight, tolerability, blood pressure, and glucose — with your psychiatric symptoms followed in the very same visit.

Every follow-up
Safety & what to know

Used carefully, as part of your care.

GLP-1 medications are generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are digestive — nausea, reduced appetite, and constipation — and are usually mildest when the dose is raised slowly.

They are not for everyone. We don’t prescribe them with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2, and we’re cautious with a history of pancreatitis, significant digestive disease, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Within psychiatric care, the coordination matters most. We watch mood and stability while you’re on treatment and keep GLP-1 therapy aligned with the rest of your medication plan. It supports your psychiatric care — it doesn’t replace it.

This page is educational. Whether GLP-1 treatment is appropriate for you is a decision to make with your physician, who knows your full history.

A calm indoor water garden — a quiet, restorative setting
Calm, restorative spaces — care without the rush.
Care near you

In person or by TelePsychiatry.

Medication management and metabolic monitoring work well over secure video — and in person at any of our four California clinics.

Four California clinics

Pleasant Hill · Vallejo · Davis · Fremont
Physician-led psychiatry across the Bay Area & Sacramento region.

In-person psychiatric & metabolic care Locations & directions

Statewide by TelePsychiatry

Secure-video visits across all 58 California counties. Lab work is done close to home, and we review the results together at your follow-up.

All 58 CA counties Explore TelePsychiatry
Frequently asked

Weight & GLP-1 FAQ.

Several psychiatric medications can change appetite, the sense of fullness, and how the body stores energy. The effect varies widely by medication and by person. It’s a known medical effect of the treatment — not a personal failing — and there are good ways to manage it.
Usually no. The goal is to keep treatment that’s controlling your symptoms and manage the weight separately — sometimes by adjusting or switching the psychiatric medication, sometimes by adding GLP-1 treatment. Never stop a psychiatric medication on your own, because symptoms can return.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medications that extend a natural gut hormone signaling fullness to the brain. Several are FDA-approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Examples include semaglutide and liraglutide. Most are given as a once-weekly injection.
For most patients it can be used safely, and our physicians coordinate it with your full medication plan and monitor you throughout. We screen for situations where GLP-1 medications aren’t appropriate — such as a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 — before recommending them.
Coverage for GLP-1 medications varies by plan and by the reason the medication is prescribed. We verify your benefits and discuss expected costs and options with you up front. Call (925) 825-1766 and we’ll help you understand your specific plan.
Begin

Keep the treatment that works. Manage the weight.

Universal Medical Group is accepting new patients across California — in person and by TelePsychiatry. If weight gain has you thinking about stopping treatment, let’s talk through the options first.

Book a consultation Call (925) 825-1766

SMS appointment reminders are optional. You may opt in during booking — consent is not required to schedule or receive care. Msg & data rates may apply for opted-in numbers. Reply STOP to opt out anytime. See our SMS Consent & Terms.